From the Crows' Nest - TopPodcast.com

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EMSO Lessons from Iran: What Comes Next Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

Recent operations involving Iran have handed the US direct lessons in electromagnetic warfare, and the open question is whether the Pentagon will act on them.

For today's conversation, Ken Miller sits down with John Knowles, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED), to break down what Operation Epic Fury means for EMSO. Together, they discuss directed energy moving into production, why buying more interceptors is easier than changing organizations, and AOC's push for an EMSO combat support agency. John also argues for a dedicated DOD Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) for spectrum and explains why Golden Dome and counter-UAS make shared spectrum an operational problem at home.

We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org or by visiting us on our Instagram @fromthecrowsnestpodcast.

To learn more about today's topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

Why EMSO and IO Can’t Stay in Separate Lanes Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

An operation planned around the electromagnetic spectrum as an afterthought works right up until the enemy adapts to it.

For today's conversation, Ken Miller sits down with retired Colonel Dr. William "Dollar" Young, AOC Board Member Scott “Sherm” Oliver, and Booz Allen Director of Defense Technology Group Jarod Patton to break down what came out of INFOPAC 2026. Together, they discuss why false certainty is dangerous in AI-enabled systems and how double-loop learning helps commanders test their own assumptions before committing to a theory of victory. The conversation also gets into what lessons from Ukraine mean for rapid reprogramming and scalable EW systems.

To learn more about today's topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

AOC Asia 2026: Closing the Gaps in Indo-Pacific EW Readiness Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Without a NATO-style alliance to lean on, electromagnetic warfare readiness in the Indo-Pacific depends on regional cooperation that the industry is still building from scratch.

For today's conversation, Ken Miller closes out coverage from AOC Asia 2026 in Adelaide, Australia, with three separate conversations: Jang Pyo Kim, AOC Regional Director for Asia Pacific and Chief Principal Researcher at the Agency for Defense Development, on why the region needs its own recurring forum, Hope Sneddon, an embedded software engineer at DesignWorks, on what electromagnetic warfare can borrow from game development, and David de Haaij, Chief Technology Officer at Black Art Technologies, on RF and antenna design in a congested threat environment. Together, they discuss coalition interoperability and software-defined platforms, plus the industrial base needed to keep pace with a faster, more contested spectrum.

To learn more about today's topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

AOC Asia 2026: The Fight for Spectrum Control in the Indo-Pacific Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Spectrum control now sits at the center of Indo-Pacific defense planning, and AI is changing both how allies coordinate and how China pursues electromagnetic advantage.

For today's conversation, Ken Miller sits down with Dr. Nathan Johnson, president of the AOC Australia-New Zealand chapter, and Dr. Chen Yi Tu (Crystal), a research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, to break down what AOC Asia 2026 revealed about the region's security outlook. Together, they discuss why AOC Asia was paired with Australia's ADSTAR event, how coalition warfare demands shared frameworks across the Indo-Pacific, and how China is advancing EMSO through military-civil fusion, AI-assisted monitoring, and influence in international regulatory bodies.

To learn more about today's topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

Thor's Hammer 2026: What Allies Learn From Each Other Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

Four countries, one test range, and a shared problem: How do you stop a drone or a remote-detonated bomb before it does damage?

Ken Miller is back with more on NATO's Thor's Hammer 2026 exercise, this time talking with military and industry experts from Norway, Australia, Germany, and the US. They discuss how RF signal suppression holds up in terrain that doesn't cooperate, why comparing notes matters as much as the equipment itself, and why having someone outside your own country check your results tends to catch things you'd miss on your own.